Tilt Roller for Control Device

ABSTRACT

A control device includes a roller configured to rotate and tilt; a roller support coupled to the roller, wherein the roller is configured to rotate relative to the roller support; the first hinge disposed adjacent to a first end of the roller support; and a second hinge disposed adjacent to a second end of the roller support, wherein the first end and the second end are substantially opposite ends of the roller support, the second hinge is above the first hinge, and the first hinge and the second hinge are configured to provide tilting support for the roller and roller support.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a Continuation Application of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 10/976,431, filed Oct. 29, 2004, the disclosure ofwhich is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety for allpurposes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to control devices, and more specificallyrelates to a tilting roller for a control device configured to controlgraphical objects displayed on a display.

The control device industry continues to strive to develop new controldevices that are convenient to use and simple to manufacture. Moreover,the control device industry continues to strive to develop new controldevices that provide scrolling control of graphical objects that aredisplayed on a display, such as a computer display, the display of apersonal digital assistant, the display of a game device or the like.Traditional control devices, such as computer mice, provide scrollingcontrol of graphical objects along the vertical axis of a display. Thevertical scrolling directions on a display are typically referred to asthe y-scrolling directions. More recent control devices provide bothvertical scrolling control and horizontal scrolling control of graphicalobjects. The horizontal scrolling directions are typically referred toas the x-scrolling directions. Vertical-scrolling control andhorizontal-scrolling control are often desired for scrolling graphicalobjects, such as a page of text, an image, video or the like, thatextend beyond the vertical- and horizontal-display widths of a displayso that these portions of the graphical objects may be convenientlyscrolled for display. Even more recent control devices provide scrollingcontrol of graphical objects for an axis that is perpendicular to thesurface of a display. This axis is often referred to as the z-axis, andscrolling associated the z-axis is typically referred to as z-scrolling.Z-scrolling is often used for enlarging an image or shrinking an image(sometimes referred to as zooming in and zooming out on a graphicalobject) displayed on a display, and is sometimes used to show differentz-axis cross-sections of a graphical object.

Other controllers configured to control scrolling of graphical objectsinclude the controllers discussed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,446,481, filed Aug.29, 1995, titled “Multidimensional Hybrid Mouse for Computers,” owned byMouse System Corporation, and in Patent Abstract of Japan, PublicationNo. 2002-366300, titled Mouse With Scroll Functions, owned by ToshibaCorp.

Microsoft published US Application No. 2003/0025673 shows a mouse with awheel that is tiltable in a carriage and assembly carrier structure toprovide horizontal scrolling in addition to the vertical scrolling fromrotation of the wheel. This published application claims priority frompublished US Application No. 2002/0158844 that shows a scrolling wheelthat slides laterally to provide for horizontal scrolling.

Gillick U.S. Pat. No. 5,446,481 shows a roller on a mouse that can betilted to activate Z axis inputs. A number of other approaches have beentaken to provide horizontal or a similar type of scrolling.

One approach is to provide a button near the scrolling wheel thatswitches the wheel from controlling vertical to horizontal scrolling.Examples are Gillick U.S. Pat. No. 5,530,455 and Toshiba publishedJapanese Application No. JP 2002366300.

The use of separate left and right scrolling buttons is shown, forexample, in K. S. Cheng German published Application No. DE 20300281.

The use of a microstick, like a mini-joystick, on a mouse is shown inYaniger U.S. Pat. No. 5,659,334, Synaptics U.S. Pat. No. 6,587,093, andPrimax U.S. Pat. No. 6,204,838.

An optical sensor on the top of a mouse for sensing horizontal movementof a finger, in addition to vertical is shown in Agilient publishedEuropean Application No. EP 1182606.

The use of two separate scrolling wheels on a mouse, one for verticaland another for horizontal movement is shown in Nippon publishedJapanese Application No. JP 2003022160.

A four-way button on a mouse for providing horizontal input is shown inPrimax U.S. Pat. No. 5,883,619.

A saddle-shaped joystick on a mouse is shown in IBM publishedApplication No. WO 200058819.

New control devices continue to be needed that provide control ofgraphical objects displayed on a display and that are easy to use andmanufacture.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A control device embodiment of the present invention includes a rollerconfigured to rotate and tilt; a roller support coupled to the roller,wherein the roller is configured to rotate relative to the rollersupport; the first hinge disposed adjacent to a first end of the rollersupport; and a second hinge disposed adjacent to a second end of theroller support, wherein the first end and the second end aresubstantially opposite ends of the roller support, the second hinge isabove the first hinge, and the first hinge and the second hinge areconfigured to provide tilting support for the roller and roller support.According to a specific embodiment of the present invention, the controldevice includes a top housing, wherein an axis of the front hinge andthe back hinge substantially aligns with a portion of the top housingthat is adjacent to the roller. According to another specificembodiment, the front hinge is configured to provide downward titlingsupport for the roller and roller support.

According to another specific embodiment, the back hinge includes a ribthat is configured to couple to a housing, and a hinge support coupledto the roller support and having a substantially u-shaped opening formedtherein, a surface of the hinge support that forms the opening isconfigured to couple to a distal end of the rib, and the hinge supportis configured to rotate relative to the rib about the surface if theroller is laterally pushed.

According to another embodiment, a control device includes a housinghaving a slot formed in therein; a roller configured to rotate and tilt,wherein at least a portion of the roller extends through the slot; aroller support coupled to the roller, wherein the roller is configuredto rotate relative to the roller support; the first hinge disposedadjacent to a first end of the roller support; and a second hingedisposed adjacent to a second end of the roller support, wherein: i) thewherein the first end and the second end are substantially opposite endsof the roller support, ii) the second hinge is above the first hinge,iii) the second hinge includes a hinge bar coupled to the housing and ahinge support coupled to the bar, and vi) the first hinge and the secondhinge are configured to provide tilting support for the roller androller support. According to a specific embodiment, a rotation axis ofthe front hinge and the back hinge is substantially aligned with aportion of the housing having the slot formed therein.

According to another embodiment, a control device includes a rollerhaving a central hole formed therein and a set of protrusions positionedon an inner surface of the central hole; a ratchet support having a holeformed therein, wherein at least a portion of the ratchet support ispositioned in the central hole, and wherein the roller is configured torotate relative to the ratchet support; a spring device positioned inthe hole; and a ratchet ball coupled to the spring, wherein the springis configured to push the ratchet ball outward from the hole to couplethe ratchet ball to the protrusions, and wherein the ratchet ball andthe protrusions are configured to ratchet if the roller is rotated.

For a further understanding of the nature and advantages of theinvention, reference should be made to the following description takenin conjunction with the accompanying drawings and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 1C are, respectively, a perspective view andcross-sectional views of a roller device according to one embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 2 is a simplified schematic of a computer system that includes acomputer, a monitor, a first control device, and a second control deviceaccording to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a portion of the roller device and showsthe roller support in an outline view;

FIG. 4 is a side view of the roller according to one embodiment of thepresent invention; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the roller device according to ananother embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 1C are, respectively, a perspective view andcross-sectional views of a roller device 100 according to one embodimentof the present invention. Roller device 100 may include a roller 105, aroller support 110, a ratchet support 115, a front hinge 120, and a backhinge 125. Roller 105 may be rotated (indicated by arrow 126 a) by auser to control vertical scrolling of a graphical object displayed on adisplay, and may be tilted (indicated by arrow 126 b) to controlhorizontal scrolling of the graphical object. Vertical scrolling issometimes referred to herein as y-scrolling, and horizontal scrolling issometimes referred to herein as x-scrolling. A graphical object asreferred to herein includes any object that may be displayed on adisplay, such as text, a window, an image (such as a picture, anelectronic drawing or the like), video or the like. A display mightinclude a computer monitor, a television (e.g., a television monitor ora traditional television), the display of a personal digital assistant,the display of a game device or the like.

FIG. 2 is a simplified schematic of a computer system 127 that includesa computer 127 a, a monitor 127 b, a first control device 127 c, and asecond control device 127 d. Control device 127 d might be a mouse or atrack ball that is configured to include roller device 100. The rollerdevice might be rotated and tilted in the control device as indicated byarrows 126 a and 126 b respectively. While roller device 100 isdescribed as forming a portion of control device 127 d, control device127 c (e.g., a keyboard) might also be configured to include to theroller device. For convenience, the x, y, and z scrolling directions areindicated on the monitor. The z-axis extends perpendicularly from thatplane of the page and is indicated, according to customary notation, asa dot in a circle. Control devices 127 c and/or 127 d may be hard wiredor wireless devices.

Referring again to FIGS. 1A-1C, roller 105 includes a tire 129 and awheel 130 that are configured to rotate relative to roller support 110and ratchet support 115. Roller support 110 has a substantiallysolid-arc shape (i.e., the shape of a section of a disk) as viewed fromthe side of the roller support to substantially match a solid-arcportion of the roller that is configured to fit in an opening of theroller support. The roller may be held in the roller support by a set ofroller pins 140 that are coupled to a central position of wheel 130.Roller pins 140 may be configured to fit in a set of apertures 145 thatare formed in the roller support. The apertures are configured tosupport the roller pins, and the roller pins are configured to rotaterelative to the apertures as the roller is rotated by a user.

The ratchet support may be substantially fixed with respect to theroller and the roller support and may be at least partially disposedwithin a central opening 147 formed in the roller. The ratchet supportmay include a set of tabs 150 that is configured to contract the rollersupport, for example, at an upper surface 155 of the roller support suchthat the tabs are configured to prevent the ratchet support fromrotating as the roller is rotated. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of aportion of the roller device and shows the roller support in an outlineview. As shown in FIG. 3, the ratchet support may further include a pin157 that is disposed in a hole 158 formed in the roller support suchthat the pin and hole are configured to provide further anti-rotationalsupport of the ratchet support relative to the roller support.

Tire 129 may be coupled to wheel 130 or may be integrally formed withthe wheel. The tire and wheel are be configured to rotate together(e.g., as a unit) as the tire is rotationally pushed by a user. Wheel130 may include a set of encoder slots 170, wherein the encoder slotsare configured to transmit light from a light source 175 to an opticalencoder 180. Light source 175 might be a light emitting diode, a laserdiode or the like. The encoder slots may be positioned substantiallyequidistance from one another around a circumference of wheel 130 as isshown in the side view of roller 105 in FIG. 4. Referring again to FIG.3, ratchet support 115 may include a cutout 182 formed therein that isconfigured to permit the light to pass from the light source to theencoder slots. As the tire and wheel are rotated, the intensity of thelight from the light source reaching the optical encoder increases anddecreases. The optical encoder is configured to detect the increase anddecrease of the intensity of the light, and use the intensity change togenerate a set of encoder signals that encode the roller rotations. Theencoder signals may be sent to a computer or the like, to controlvertical scrolling of a graphical object displayed on a monitor of acomputer.

Referring again to FIGS. 1A to 1C, an inner surface 200 of wheel 130 mayinclude a set of protrusions 205. The protrusions may be triangular,rounded or the like, and may be configured to couple to (e.g., contract)a ratchet ball 210 to ratchet the roller as the roller is rotated by auser. The ratcheting of the ratchet ball and the protrusions providetactile feedback to the user, via the tire, that informs the user thatthe roller has been rotated. A lower portion of the ratchet ball may bedisposed in a hole 220 that is formed in ratchet support 115. An upperportion of the ratchet ball may extend from the hole to contact theprotrusions to provide ratcheting as the tire is rotated. The centralaxis of hole 220 may substantially align with a radius of the ratchetsupport. The ratchet ball may be forced outward from the center of theratchet support by a spring 225 that is disposed in the hole, and ispositioned substantially below the ratchet ball to force the ratchetball outward from the ratchet support.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a top portion of roller device 100according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention.According to the alternative embodiment, ratcheting is provided by aspring 250 and a set of protrusions 255 that are disposed on a hub 260of wheel 130. For convenience, the set of protrusions 255 are shown inthe embodiment of the roller device that is shown in FIG. 1C. Spring 250may be disposed in a slot 265 formed in the ratchet support and may beconfigured to contact the protrusions through an aperture 270 formed inthe ratchet support. The spring and protrusions are configured toratchet as the tire and the wheel are rotated by a user. According toanother alternative embodiment, spring 250 is be configured to contactprotrusions 205 through an aperture 275 formed in the ratchet support toprovide ratcheting as the tire and the wheel are rotated.

According to one embodiment, roller 105 is configured to be presseddownward (e.g., “clicked”) to activate a switch 285. Roller support 110may include an arm 280 that is disposed on a back portion of the rollersupport and substantially above the switch 285 to activate switch 285 ifthe roller is pressed downward by a user. More specifically, the rollerand roller support may be configured to rotate downward to activateswitch 285 if the roller is pressed. The roller and roller support maybe configured to rotate downward about a hinge axis 120 a (which isindicated as a dashed line in FIG. 1C) of front hinge 120. Front hinge120 may include a front-hinge support 120 b and a rod 120 c that isconfigured to pass through an aperture 120 d formed in the front-hingesupport. As roller 105 is pressed downward, rod 120 c (and hence roller105) is configured to rotate about hinge axis 120 a while front-hingesupport 120 b remains substantially fixed. A spring 290 positionedtoward the back of the roller support may be configured to provide anupward return force to the roller support as the roller is presseddownward. The spring may be positioned such that arm 280 is positionedwithin the central opening of the spring, and the spring may beconfigured to contact the upper surface of switch 285 and a shelfportion 295 of the roller housing to provide the return force.

Switch 285 may be a pancake switch or other type of switch and mayprovide a variety of functions associated with a roller click. Forexample, switch 285 in an activated state may be configured to changethe mode operation of roller 105 from a first mode of operation to asecond mode of operation. For example, the first mode of operation ofroller 105 might be a y-scrolling mode (i.e., vertical scrolling mode)for graphical objects, and the second mode of operation might be az-scrolling mode for graphical objects. The z-axis of a display includesan axis extending perpendicularly from the front of the display.Z-scrolling might include enlarging or reducing a graphical object thatis displayed on the display, showing different z-axis cross-sections ofthe graphical object (e.g., if the graphical object is a threedimensional graphical object) or the like. The switch 285 mightalternatively configure a position controller (not shown), such as aroller ball, track ball, optical sensor, or the like to change the modeof the position controller from a first mode of operation (e.g., aposition-control mode) to a second mode of operation. The second mode ofoperation of the position controller might be a selection mode forselecting (e.g., highlighting) a graphical object (e.g., text, agraphic, etc) for scrolling the graphical object or the like.

As briefly described above, roller 105 and roller support 110 areconfigured to tilt, as indicated by arrow 126 b, by a user pushinglaterally on the roller. The roller device may include switches 300 aand 300 b that are configured to be activated if the roller is tiltedright or left, respectively. The roller support might include an arm 305a that is coupled to the right side of the roller cage, and may beconfigured to activate switch 300 a if the roller is tilted right. Theroller support might also include and arm 305 b that is coupled to theleft side of the roller cage, and may be configured to activate switch300 b if the roller is tilted left. Switches 300 a and 300 b may beconfigured to control right scrolling and left scrolling, respectively,of a graphical object displayed on a display. Switch 285 may beconfigured to change the operation mode of switches 300 a and 300 b ifswitch 285 is activated (e.g., pressed and released or pressed andheld). For example, if switch 285 is activated, the control mode ofswitches 300 a and 300 b may be changed from a first operation mode(e.g., a horizontal scrolling mode) to a second operation mode, whereinthe second operation mode might include z-axis scrolling of a graphicalobject, selecting a graphical object (e.g., highlighting) formanipulation or the like.

According to one embodiment, switches 300 a and 300 b are configured todetect different amounts of force applied to the switches. For example,switches 300 a and 300 b might include piezoelectric devices or the likeconfigured to detect the forces on the switches. The switches might beconfigured to scroll a graphical object at a rate that is associatedwith the force detected by the switches. For example, the switches mightbe configured to scroll a graphical object at a relatively high rate ifa relatively high force is applied to the switches, and might beconfigured to scroll a graphical object a relatively low rate if arelatively low force is applied to the switches. The switch might beconfigured to control the rates of other modes of operation (z-axisscrolling mode) dependent on the forces detected by the switches.

According to one embodiment, front hinge 120 and back hinge 125 areconfigured to provide tilting support for the roller and roller support.The front hinge is positioned lower than the back hinge such that rollerand roller support are configured to tilt about an axis 120 e that isinclined with respect to the roller device. Axis 120 e is indicated as adashed line in FIG. 1C. Axis 120 e passes substantially though the hingepoints of the hinges. This axis is an inclined axis, for example, withrespect to a button housing portion of housing 127 e of mouse 127 d, andmay approximately align with the angle of inclination of top housingportion of housing 127 e. The angle of inclination of the axis 127 e mayapproximately match a comfortable use angle of a user's finger thatlaterally pushes on the roller. Alternatively, the angle of inclinationof the axis 127 e may approximately match the angle of a portion of thetop housing that is adjacent to the roller. As described above fronthinge 120 may include front-hinge support 120 b and rod 120 c. If atilting force is applied to the roller, rod 120 c might be configured torotate in aperture 120 d about axis 120 e. Back hinge 125 might includea hinge support 125 a and a rib 125 b. Hinge support 125 a may becoupled to the roller support, and may be integrally formed with theroller support. Rib 125 b may be coupled to top housing 127 e of acontrol device (e.g., mouse 127 d, keyboard 127 c, etc.), and may beintegrally formed with the top housing. Hinge support 125 a may have a“U” shape, and bar 125 b may be configured to fit in the opening 125 cof the hinge support. The bar and the hinge support may have curvedsurfaces or the like in a region at which the bar and the hinge supportcoupled to one another such that the bar and the hinge support canrotate (e.g., rock and/or slide) relative to one another to providehinge movement. The bar and hinge support may be configured to rotaterelative to one another about axis 120 e. According to one embodiment,spring 290 is configure to provide a return force to return the rollerand roller support from a tilted position to an upright position as auser has stopped applying a lateral force to the roller.

Roller device 100 may be coupled to a printed circuit (PC) board 310that is configured to transfer the control signal generated by theroller device to a computer or the like for controlling graphicalobjects displayed on a display or to control other functions associatedwith a computer or the like. The roller device and its associated PCboards may be coupled to a control device, such as a mouse, a keyboard,a joystick, a keypad, a game controller or the like. For example, rollerdevice 100 may be coupled to a bottom portion of housing 127 e of mouse127 d (or other device) and positioned at a front portion of the mouse(see FIG. 1C). Tire 129 may extend through an aperture 325 that isformed in a top portion of housing 127 d for user access.

According to one embodiment, front hinge 120 has a relatively lowprofile. For example, front hinge 120 might have a height H of about 10millimeters or less (see FIG. 1A). As front hinge 120 has a relativelylow profile, the hinge is configured to be positioned adjacent to afront side of housing 315, wherein the front side of the housing formsthe front portion of mouse 320.

According to one embodiment, roller device 100 further includes switches325 a and 325 b that are disposed on opposite sides of the rollersupport on the PC board. The switches may be configured to be activatedby buttons 127 f or the like that might be coupled to housing 127 e. Theswitches are configured to provide selection functions or the like thatare associated with conventional mouse buttons.

It is to be understood that the examples and embodiments described aboveare for illustrative purposes only and that various modifications orchanges in light thereof will be suggested to persons skilled in the artand are to be included within the spirit and purview of this applicationand scope of the appended claims. For example, while specific direction(up, down, front, back, left, right, etc) are used to in the foregoingdescription to refer to direction relative to the pages of the drawings,it should be understood that these directions are used as a matter ofconvenience. Therefore, it should be understood that while the specificdirections are used to describe the roller device embodiments, theroller device may be mounted in a variety of configurations, such asmounted on the side of a control device for thumb use, on the slopingtop of a keyboard or the like. Further, while the hole formed in theratchet support is described as being substantially along a radius ofthe ratchet support the hole may lie at an non-zero angle with respectto the radius. Therefore, the above description should not be taken aslimiting the scope of the invention as defined by the claims.

1. A control device comprising: a roller configured to rotate and tilt;a roller support coupled to the roller, wherein the roller is configuredto rotate relative to the roller support; the first hinge disposedadjacent to a first end of the roller support; and a second hingedisposed adjacent to a second end of the roller support, wherein thefirst end and the second end are substantially opposite ends of theroller support, the second hinge is above the first hinge, and the firsthinge and the second hinge are configured to provide tilting support forthe roller and roller support.